Tatar-Bashkir Report: April 16, 2001

Russian Official Praises Tatarstan�s Foreign RelationsVladimir Kulikov, the deputy head of the Russian Foreign Ministry�s department for relations with federation subjects, said on 13 April in Kazan that Tatarstan leads all federation subjects in its foreign ties and that it performs what he called "serious and well-thought out" work. He made that comment at a meeting of Kazan's representatives abroad.

Kazan, Perm Legislatures To CooperateThe speakers of Tatarstan and Perm oblast Farid Mukhametshin and Nikolai Devyatkin on 13 April in Perm signed the agreement on cooperation between the two parliaments, Tatar-inform reported.

Tatarstan Deputies Back Fatherland, Unity Merge�Duma deputy Farida Gainullina said that the merger of Fatherland with Unity is "an objective necessity if we take into account expected adoption of political parties law.� She said that the Unity Duma faction is less professional but has more members than Fatherland and that after the merge, the problem of pro-presidential majority in Duma will be solved. But she added that such a merger would be unlikely resolve controversies among the two factions and that Fatherland will take the lead on many issues, Unity leader in Tatarstan and State Council deputy Yuri Nazmiev supported the idea of setting up a strong right-wing party saying that there are no differences of principle between the platforms of the two organizations. And he backed the candidacy of Yevgeny Primakov as a new organization leader.

�While Morozov Wants Even Broader Duma CoalitionLeader of the Duma faction Regions of Russia Oleg Morozov in his interview with strana.ru on 14 April proposed to merge Unity, OVR, Regions of Russia and Narodny Deputat factions to form Duma majority. He said that the new group must reflect the interests of the people rather than the bureaucracy. And he said the group must be prepared to compete with the KPRF.

Deputy Says Early Parliamentary Reform PossibleState Council legislation committee chairman Marat Galeev on 14 April said on Tatarstan radio that the republic legislature may be reformed even before the present parliament completes its term and elections are held.

Tatar Literature, Art Days Start In IstanbulTatarstan Literature and Art Days have opened in Istanbul on 13 April, Tatar-inform reported. Performances of the Tatarstan state song and dance ensemble and the

Moscow Gives Kazan 143 Million For Underground ConstructionThe Russian government has allotted 143.6 million rubles ($5 million) for the construction of the Kazan underground, tatnews.ru reported on 13 April.

Tatneft Represented on Chuvashnefteprodukt BoardThree representatives of Tatneft were elected to the seven-member Chuvashnefteprodukt board on 12 April, VolgaInform reported.

Internet Users, Providers UniteThe Internet users and providers union has been set up in Kazan at the initiative of the republic human rights committee, tatnews.ru reported on 14 April. The non-profit organization is intended to protect authors and Internet users rights, intellectual property and to form legal and social basis in the information sector.

Shaimiev Takes a VacationPresident Mintimer Shaimiev on 13 April left for Karlovy Vary for two weeks of vacation, �Respublika Tatarstan� reported.

Compiled by Gulnara Khasanova

DAILY REVIEW FROM BASHKORTOSTAN

Bashkortostan, China To Boost TiesPrime Minister Rafael Baidavletov and China�s Laoning province governor Bo Silai agreed to increase trade, economic and scientific ties, Bashinform reported on 13 April. The two set up six new joint ventures on top of the 24 that had existed.

Udmurtia President Visits UfaPresident Aleksandr Volkov on 14 April arrived in Ufa to discuss economic cooperation between the two republics, RFE/RL�s Ufa correspondent reported.

Bashkortostan Fatherland Leader Backs Merge With UnityRustem Akhmadinurov, the deputy head of Fatherland in Bashkortostan, said on 13 April that the decision of Fatherland and Unity to merge is �a natural and positive phenomenon,� Bashinform reported. He said he supports the candidacies of Yuri Luzhkov as the new body leader and Yevgeny Primakov to head the joint faction in the Duma.

Bashkortostan Oil Company Urges Cooperation with TatarstanBashkir fuel company president Nur Saifullin on 13 April said that Tatarstan�s plan to construct oil-processing plant is not clear thought out that that the two republics should expand cooperation in its sector, Bashinform reported.

Rakhimov Greets Christians on EasterPresident Murtaza Rakhimov on 13 April sent his greetings to Archbishop Nikon of Ufa and the republic's Christians on the occasion of Easter, Bashinform reported.